Six Ways to take a Restorative Break
Have you have ever wondered why you don’t feel refreshed after taking a break at work or home? What is your go to when you have some downtime? Too many of us have a tendency to reach for our devices when we are taking a break.
Research indicates that there are helpful and less helpful break-time activities. For example, a good break helps increase our brain function, helps us concentrate, and reduces mental fatigue. On the other hand, the wrong kind of breaks might increase our susceptibility to boredom and have us itching to take a break more often.
Using our screens as a break-time activity strengthens our ‘addiction’ to our devices and makes us reach for them more often. But it also does not leave us feeling refreshed. In fact, too much screen time can reduce our cognitive functioning and lead to brain fog.
Six ways to make your break a refreshing break
Move your body. Even 10 minutes of walking or moderate exercise can boost your cognitive functioning and increase your attention. Put your phone away while you go for a walk. Pay attention to the sights and sounds as you walk. Take a break from scanning, scrolling, and overstimulation.
Find some nature. Maybe there is a park nearby or even trees lining the street. If there is no actual nature, you can notice an indoor plant, watch fish swimming in a fish tank, or watch a nature video. Breathe deep and put your attention on the details of nature.
Rest your eyes. Every hour, close your eyes for a minute. With your eyes closed, give yourself a mini face massage. Gently rub your forehead, temples, and cheeks below your eyes.
Stretch. Reach your arms up as high as you can, let them fall to your side, then fold over and touch your toes (or as far as you can comfortably reach) and finally roll gently up to standing. Repeat a few times.
Be still. Take a few moments to put all distractions aside, breathe deep, and let your mind just be. Don’t worry about controlling your thoughts; just watch your thoughts. Try closing your eyes and smiling while you do this.
Connect with someone in real life. Make eye contact and smile. Make a small, kind gesture. Say something nice or do something nice. Take a few moments to enjoy connecting with a partner, child, friend, co-worker or stranger.
If we are going to feel productive and engaged in life, we need beneficial breaks. Refreshing breaks reduce boredom and fatigue and help improve concentration. As a result, we will find that we can better focus at work and home.